Starting Nov. 1, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will apprehend motor vehicles using temporary and improvised plates in a bid to compel motorists to secure their license plates.

LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said there is no more reason to use improvised and temporary plates since the backlog on the license plates were already addressed on June 30.

The only problem is challenge of delivery and that some motor vehicle owners are not claiming their license plates.

“We advise motorists with unclaimed license plates to get them to avoid any inconvenience with regard to the strict implementation of this policy. Let us take advantage of the entire month of October to do so,” said Mendoza.

Once the policy is implemented, Mendoza said LTO enforcers and other deputized personnel to enforce traffic rules and regulations will be advised to apprehend violators.

The penalties include P5,000 fine and confiscation of the temporary and improvised plates.

Motor vehicles with improvised or temporary plates, according to Mendioza, will not be accepted for renewal of registration.

He, however, clarified that the use of improvised plates will only be allowed provided that an authorization to use them shall be signed by concerned LTO offices that processed the duplicate plate request. 

The improvised plate shall contain the assigned plate number of the vehicle with the words “Improvised Plate” below it.

Mendoza said the strict policy against the use of improvised and temporary plates is reinforced by aggressive efforts to distribute all license plates nationwide in the soonest possible time.

He said the policy will also be supported with the LTO’s existing program of making sure that both the OR/CR and license plates must be available on the day of the release of newly-bought motor vehicles.